Southeastern New York Library Resources Council

Libraries, museums, and archives across the country often own recorded oral histories, but the general public is often unaware that these hidden treasures exist and are available for use. To demonstrate a new model for generating public interest and use of oral history collections, the Southeastern New York Library Resources Council will lead a unique partnership of libraries, museums, community organizations, audio producers, broadcasters, and oral history digitization and content management consultants. Together, the partners will digitize oral histories selected from repositories in the region and present the content in a manner suitable for the preferences of twenty-first century users. Project activities will include producing a series of radio broadcasts from excerpts, creating linked and dynamic websites that showcase the collections, and creating innovative mobile applications. These activities, along with training programs, will give libraries and museums the capacity to present collections in new and engaging ways.